A Different Kind of Freedom

Elizabeth sat in Tia Dalma's hut, silent tears finally escaping her and rolling slowly down her stained cheek. She put a finger to her lips, remembering her kiss with Jack. Her eyes drifting to the side, she noticed Will staring at her. The hurt in his eyes was unmistakable and she quickly turned away.

Did she love Jack?

She didn't even know if that was relevant anymore. Will must have seen the kiss, but obviously he didn't see her shackle Jack to the ship. She wished she knew what he was thinking, but she couldn't tell him the truth- that she was a pirate. A selfish, betraying pirate. Jack was right, they did have a lot in common. She had betrayed them both.

More tears threaten to splash out, and Elizabeth struggled to think clearly through the maze of puzzling emotions running through her head.

"I'm not going to be sorry." Another lie. She had regretted it immediately, it would stay with her every minute of every day for the rest of her life. She tried to tell herself she only kissed Jack to trick him, but in her heart she didn't believe it. She knew that she had wanted it.

She loved Will, didn't she? She was going to marry Will for gods sake! Her head told her that she had made the right decision, Will would be good to her and they would be happy….but her heart longed for a different kind of freedom, an impulsiveness, Jack. Even Norrington could see it, but she had been in denial. The compass wasn't broken at all.

Elizabeth heard Tia Dalma ask them what they would do to get Jack back. Sail to the world's end? At first her heart soared. There was a chance to get Jack back alive, she hadnt killed him- she was going to see his roguish grin again…Elizabeth was then overcome with shame, and wondered how he would react when he saw her again, after her betrayal. One by one, they all said 'aye' and until only Elizabeth and Will were left. "Yes, Yes." she uttered, and Will followed suit. Elizabeth wondered guiltily if he was only saying it for her, and wiped a tear off her face. Gibbs looked at her sympathetically, but if he knew what she had done…she could never tell them. She couldn't tell them, that she, Elizabeth Swann was a pirate. A pirate who had sent someone they all loved to his death.

A/N: Ok, I've never written a POTC fic before, and this one probably isnt very good. I know heaps and heaps of people have written about this, but I just had to, its been circulating in my head for a long time! Please read and review! I'd love to hear some constructive criticism as well, to improve my writing!